Ultrastructure of rapidly frozen and freeze-substituted germ tubes of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and localization of polyphosphate

In arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM), the supply of phosphorus from the fungi is one of the most important benefits to the host plant. Here we describe for the first time the ultrastructure and polyphosphate (poly P) distribution in rapidly frozen and freeze-substituted germ tubes of the AM fungus Gigaspo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The New phytologist 2008-01, Vol.178 (1), p.189-200
Main Authors: Kuga, Yukari, Saito, Katsuharu, Nayuki, Keiichiro, Peterson, R. Larry, Saito, Masanori
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acid Anhydride Hydrolases - metabolism
arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Cell walls
cryo-TEM
Cryopreservation
Ellipsoids
energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM)
enzyme-affinity immuno-gold labelling
Fluorescence
Fluorescent Dyes
Freezing
Fungal spores
Fungi
Gigaspora
Gigaspora margarita
Hyphae
Hyphae - metabolism
Hyphae - ultrastructure
Indoles
Microscopy, Energy-Filtering Transmission Electron
Mycorrhizae - metabolism
Mycorrhizae - ultrastructure
Mycorrhizal fungi
Organelles
polyphosphate (poly P)
Polyphosphates
Polyphosphates - metabolism
Spectrum Analysis
tubular vacuole
Vacuoles
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Summary:In arbuscular mycorrhizas (AM), the supply of phosphorus from the fungi is one of the most important benefits to the host plant. Here we describe for the first time the ultrastructure and polyphosphate (poly P) distribution in rapidly frozen and freeze-substituted germ tubes of the AM fungus Gigaspora margarita. At the ultrastructural level, phosphorus distribution was analysed using energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy, and poly P was detected using an enzyme-affinity method. Semithin sections and live cells were also stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, which is not specific but fluoresces yellow when viewed under UV irradiation by binding with poly P. The cryotechnique method showed that extensive elongate ellipsoid vacuoles containing a uniform electron-opaque material occupied most of the cell volume. Combining the results of multiple methods revealed that poly P was localized in a dispersed form in vacuoles and in the outer fungal cell wall. These results show the significant potential of AM fungi for phosphorus storage based on its localization in the extensive complement of vacuoles in thick hyphae. The mechanism of translocation of poly P in tubular vacuoles, and the role of poly P in the cell wall, need to be elucidated.
ISSN:0028-646X
1469-8137
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02345.x